Eyeglass or



P ATENTED JAN. 19, 1904.

w. E. BIRMINGHAM. EYEGLASS 0R SPEGTAOLE CASE.

APPLIQATION FILED DEC. 6, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented January 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EYEGLASS OR SPECTACLE CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 750,017, dated January 19, 1904.

Application filed December 6, 1902. Serial No. 134,150- (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. BIRMING- HAM, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Eyeglass or Spectacle Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a novel construction of an eyeglass or spectacle case havlng a single spring of novel construction employed.

to effect the holding of the lid or cover of the case in opened or closed position, the construction and manner of application of the spring being such that the lining of the case is enabled to completely cover or inclose said spring and its adjuncts, whereby the same is concealed, and especial provision is thus made against the lining interfering in any way with the action of the spring-hinge, or vice versa.

To the above ends my invention consists of tures of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claim.

Figure '1 represents a perspective view of an eyeglass or spectacle case embodying my invention, a portion of the lining thereof being drawn away or removed for the purposes of illustration. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation of said case, showing the lid thereof in closed position and a portion of the outer covering broken away. Fig. 3 represents a section on line as w, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a transverse section on line y y, Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates an eyeglass or spectacle case, the same consisting of a body portion 2, having the base 3 provided with the upwardly-extending rim 4, which has the inwardly-extending plate 5 at its front portion, while the-rear or opposite portion has the lid .or cover 6 hinged thereto.

the rim 4, after which the ends 15 are clenched 7 upon the back of the rim 4, as will be understood from Figs. 2 and 3, said clenched ends being concealed by the leather or other covering 16, which is usually employed in devices of this character.

17 designates the lining of the case, which is shown in Fig. 1 as being partly torn away for the purpose of illustrating the location and operation of the spring 10, it being of course understood that in the completed case the lining completely conceals the spring, so that the latter and its method of operation in retaining the lid in open or closed position is invisible.

The operation is as follows: When the lid is in open position, the parts appear substantially as seen in full lines in Fig. 1 and in dotted linesin Fig. 4, it being apparent that the contact of the portion 9 of the spring 10 with the cam 7 serves to hold the lid in open position and yet the operation of the spring and cam will not be interfered with by the lining 17 When the lid is in closed position, the parts assume the position seen in full lines as in Fig. 4, whereby the lid is held in said position. a

I desireto call special attention to the novel spring 10, since by the construction of the same substantially as seen in Figs. 1 and 3 it will be apparent that a spring of great sensitiveness is produced and yet one which will efl ectively perform the function of holding the cover 6 in opened or closed position.

It will be apparent that changes may be made by those skilled in the art which will come within the scope of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in every tioned portions being bent reversely and extending toward each other, and having clenching ends secured upon said body and a lid hinged to said body, a cam on said lid engaging the central portion of said spring.

WILLIAM E. BIRMINGHAM. Witnesses:

JOHN A. W IEDERSHEI'M, E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS. 

